Kunsthaus Zürich and Bührle Foundation Agree to Keep Collection on Long-Term Loan, Intensify Provenance Research
The Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft and the Foundation E. G. Bührle Collection have agreed to keep the Bührle Foundation’s 205 works on long-term loan at the Kunsthaus Zürich, following a reassessment prompted by national and international developments in provenance research and public debate. The guidelines adopted on 26 May 2025 outline that the Kunsthaus will conduct provenance research on the collection over the next five years, applying the same standards used for its own collection. The Bührle Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to seek fair and just solutions in cases of substantiated Nazi-looted art claims, and three new exhibition formats will offer fresh perspectives on the works. The agreement implements recommendations from a June 2024 report by Prof. Raphael Gross, which reviewed the foundation’s provenance research.
The Signal
The decision signals a continued institutional commitment to transparency and historical accountability in the handling of collections with contested provenance. For collectors and curators, the case underscores the growing expectation that museums take direct responsibility for researching and contextualizing works with potential Nazi-era gaps, rather than relying solely on lenders. The Bührle Foundation’s willingness to negotiate fair solutions, as seen with Manet’s 'La Sultane', may set a precedent for other private collections on public display, balancing restitution with public access.
- Artists: Édouard Manet
- People: Philipp Hildebrand, Prof. Raphael Gross
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich, Foundation E. G. Bührle Collection
- Locations: Zurich
The Morning Signal · Daily
Get stories like this in your inbox
The art world in one daily email — auctions, openings, and acquisitions from 90+ primary sources, distilled into a five-minute read. Independent — no marketplace, no gallery ads.
Join collectors, dealers & curators
No spam · free every morning · unsubscribe anytime
The Jobs Digest · Weekly
New art-world jobs, every Monday
The Jobs Digest rounds up the week’s new museum, gallery, and auction-house openings — with salary when disclosed. One email a week, unsubscribe anytime.
